Evaporator for submarines



Dec. 24, 1935. E. NIBBS EVAPORATOR FOR SUBMARINES Filed Aug. 8. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 8. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 EVAPORATOR FOR SUBMARINES Ernest Nibbs, New London, Conn., assigner to Electric Boat Company, Groton, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 8, 1934, Serial No. 738,922

14 Claims.

This invention relates to submarine boats, and has to do with means for evaporating sea water or water of notation so as to produce steam useful wit-hin the hull for various purposes, includingthe obtaining of drinking water for the personnel of the boat.

It is known, in submarine boats, to evaporate sea water and condense the resulting steam and fresh water vapor so as to obtain water suitable for drinking purposes. This may be accomplished by electrical heating means deriving energy from the boat storage battery, by independent boilers Within the hull, or by boilers heated by the exhaust gases from the main and/or auxiliary internal combustion engines within the hull. En all of these cases, according to present practice, the boiler or evaporator is installed within the hull, which is objectionable as taking up vaiuable space. A further objection to having the boiler within the hull is that it radiates considerable heat resulting in great discomfort to the crew, even when the evaporator is insulated, and providing thick and efficient insulation upon the evaporator with a view to avoiding radiation of heat therefrom further in creases the bulk of the evaporator, so that it occupies additional valuable space within the hull.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a boiler of simple and efcient construction disposed exterior of the hull and capable of being operated from the interior thereof, thereby conserving valuable space within the hull while avoiding the above noted objections to having the boiler or evaporator in the interior or the boat. A further object is to provide a boiler of the character stated heated from a source of heat within the hull, conveniently the main and/or auxiliary internal combustion engines, this boiler being disposed between the deck of the superstructure and the top of the hull in such manner as to avoid objectionable heating of the superstructure deck. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:-

Figure i is a semi-diagrammatic fragmentary Vertical sectional View through a submarine boat with evaporator means applied thereto in accordance with my invention, this view being taken fore and aft of the hull;

Figure 2 is a section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure l, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional View .through the evaporator taken substantially on line 3 3 of Figure 2, parts being shown in eleva.- tion;

Figure 4 is a section taken substantiallyl on line -ll of Figure 3, on an enlarged scale.

have illustrated my invention as applied to a 5 submarine boat B comprising a hull l and a superstructure 2 having a deck 3 above the top of the pressure hull I. The boat itself is of known construction and need not be illustrated nor described in detail.

An internal combustion engine 4, which may be one of the main engines, or an auxiliary engine, is disposed within hull l and is provided with a cylinder water jacket 5 in a known manner. Coolingwater under pressure is supplied to the cylinder jacket of the engine in a suitable manner, as by means of a pump 6 driven by the engine and having its intake connected by a pipe 'l to a sea valve 8 opening to the sea through the hull, the discharge of the pump being connected by elbow 9 to water jacket 5 of the engine. An exhaust pipe l@ is connected to the exhaust manifold of the engine for conducting the hot exhaust gases therefrom. This pipe is provided with a water jacket i l which communicates 26 with the Water jacket of the engine in a known manner for receiving water therefrom. The engine and the means for supplying cooling water thereto and to the water jacket of the exhaust pipe are of known construction and need not be 30 further illustrated nor described in detail.

Exhaust pipe Iii is connected, at its upper end, to a valve fitting I3 provided with a water jacket llt, this fitting being disposed at the inner face of the top of the hull. Fitting i3 is aligned with 35 a similar fitting l5 disposed at the outer face of the top of the hull and provided with a water' jacket i6. Fitting i3 accommodates an inboard. valve Il for opening and closing the passage through this fitting, this valve being of known type and operated by means of a hand wheel I8 disposed within the hull. As outboard valve I9, of known type, is mounted in iitting i5' for controlling the passage therethrough, and is operated by any suitable means, such as, for example, a valve rod 2e, provided at its outer end with a bevel gear 2l meshing with a bevel gear 22, secured on the upper end of a rod 23 rotatably mounted through a stuffing box 2d extending through the top of the hull. A hand wheel 25 50 is secured upon the lower end of rod 23 and provides means for operating valve I9 from within the hull. The fittings I3 and l5 are disposed in register with an opening through the hull and are suitably secured, as by means of bolts pass- 55 Y lower end of tting i3, in a known manner.

ing through flanges at the adjacent ends of these fittings and through the hull, suitable gaskets being provided between the tting franges and the hull so as to provide watertight and pressureresistant closures at these points. The upper end of pipe Id is hanged and may be bolted to the The upper end of fitting E5 is flanged and is suitably secured, as by bolting, to one end of an yelbow provided with a water jacket 2l. Water jacket il of pipe Il is connected to water jacket I d of tting I3 in a suitable manner, as by means of a bent tube 28, it being understood that any desired or suitable number of tubes 23 may be provided, water jacket it of tting I3 is connected by a tube or pipe to water jacket I 5 of tting l5, and water jacket I5 of tting I5 is connected by a tube 252 to water jacket 2l of elbow 23. The pipe le and associated ttings i3 and l5, and the elbow 25 thus constitute a water jacketed exhaust stack extending from the engine within the huil to the exterior or" the hull beneath the superstructure deck 3.

' The other end of elbow is bolted, or otherwis-e suitably secured, to a muiiier structure comprising a tube of rectangular cross-section and open at both ends. The outer end of this tube is in register with the adjacent end of e bow 25, this elbow and the fittings I 3 and l 5 conveniently corresponding in cross-section to tube 35. The

tube is preferably provided with a plurality or thimble-shaped hollow projections 3i extending into the tube from opposite sides thereof and disposed in staggered relation, these projections constituting baiiies for the hot exhaust gases discharged frorn elbow 2t into tube Circular swash plates 32 are suitably secured upon tube and spaced apart lengthwise thereof. Plates 32 support a cylindrical boiler or evaporator casing 33, closed at its inner end by a plate 34 extending between casing 33 and tube 35. The other end of casing 33 is closed by an annular plate or head 35 extending from tube 33 outward beyond casing 33. Spacers 33 are disposed between casing 33, at the inner end thereof, and an intermediate casing 3l disposed in concentric spaced relation to casing 33, so as to form therewith an annular space 38 extending about -casing 33 for the full length thereof. An outer casing 35 is disposed in concentric spaced relation to casing 3l and defines therewith a water jacket 49 concentric with space 3S. Casings 3l and 39 project beyond the end of tube 35 remote from elbow 25 and are closed, at their ends remote Afrom the elbow, by a suitable head 5E provided centrally thereof with an outwardly extending nipple 42. Head d! and the projecting end portions of casings 3l and define a space 43 which receives the exhaust gases discharged from tube Sil, a portion of which gases enters the space 33 about casing 33, the exhaust gases being discharged through nipple 52. Conveniently, the other end of casing 5l is flanged, as shown, and may be secured to the head 35 in a suitable manlner, as by bclting, so as to provide a watertight and pressure resistant closure therewith. It will be understood, however, that the several casings may be secured together in any suitable manner.

Water jacket itl is connected, by a pipev 55, to

lwater jacket 2l of elbow 23, and is also provided While the water jacket is prefered, it is not essential and may be omitted, particularly in cases where the superstructure deck is provided with suitable lagging effective to prevent objectionable heating thereof from the muiller and evaporator unit.

Pipe is of approximately U-shape and extends through hull I, by means of suitable fittings 56, this pipe connecting the water jackets Ill and I6 of the fittings I3 and I5, respectively, as above stated. Preferably, an orifice plate 5l is interposed in pipe 55, this plate being provided with an orice 58 of small diameter relative to pipe 55 and providing a restriction. If desired or necessary, any suitable means'additional to pipe 55 may be provided for establishing communication between the water jackets of the iittings I3 and I5.

A supply tube 59 connects pipe 55, at a point exterior of the hull I, to the interior of casing 33 through head 35. Tube 59 is controlled by a valve 60 interposed therein and operated by means of a valve rod 6I extending through a stuihng box 62 secured through hull I, a hand wheel 63 being secured upon the lower endI of rod 5l for operating valve 60 from within the hull. A discharge and blow-out pipe or tube 64 opens into the lower portion of casing 33 through head 35, and is provided with a control valve 65 operated by a rod 66 extending through a stuffing box 61 secured through hull I, a hand wheel 33 being secured upon the lower end of rod 65 for operating valve 65 from within the hull.

The restriction in oriiice plate 5l assures that sufiicient pressure will be built up in pipe 55 for forcing water through supply tube 55 into casing 33, when the valve 6l! is open. In this manner water is supplied to casing 33. The normal operating water level within the casing 33 of the unit is that shown in Figure 2. The tube 3U and casing 33 of the unit constitute the boiler of the evaporator, the water space of this boiler surrounding tube 35 so that the water is quickly heated by the hot exhaust gases flowing through the muiller structure. A certain portion of these hot gases also enters the space 38 about casing 33 of the boiler structure, which furtherV inter space, respectively, of the boiler. These tubesy 'I2 and "i3 pass through suitable fittings 'I4 secured to the hull. I thus provide means for observing from within the hull the water level within the boiler of the evaporator, as well as providing means operable from within the hull for supplying water to and discharging water from thev boiler as required.

A take-off pipe 'l5 extends into the steam space 'le of the evaporator boiler, the length of this pipe within the steam space being slotted at its upper portion, in a known manner, for taking off the steam from space 'i5 while avoiding taking off objectionable quantities of water. In this connection, the swash plates 32, are of advantage as preventing excessive splashing of water in the boiler` when the boat is travelling in rough seas.

Pipe 'l5 is connected by a pipe 76, extendingthrough a suitable fitting 'Il secured to hull I,

to a distilling condenser 18 of known type disposed within the hull. A three-way control valveV 19, of known type, is interposed in pipe 16, within the hull, as shown. The condenser 'i8 is, of course, cooled in a suitable manner, conveniently by the water of flotation circulated through the condenser in a known manner. For example, Water of flotation may be supplied to the condenser from elbow 9, by means of a pipe Sa provided with a suitable valve 9b, and Water may be discharged from the condenser overboard through a pipe 9c provided with a suitable valve 9d. My invention is illustrated diagrammatically and in its simplest form. It will be understood, however, that in the practical application oi my invention numerous details, omitted for clearness of illustration, may be incorporated. Other arrangements for cooling the condenser may be provided, the locations ofthe various pipes and associated valves may be varied to suit conditions, additional pipes, valves and other appurtenances may be provided if and where desirable, etc., all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the normal use of the evaporator, with the boat running on the surface or awash, the hot exhaust gases serve to heat the water within the boiler and the steam passes through pipes 'l5 and 16 into the distilling condenser i8, thus rendering available an adequate supply of fresh Water for the use of the personnel of the boat. By opening valve 55 of blow-out pipe 64, salt and sediment collected within the lower portion of the boiler may be blown therefrom, from time to f time, so as to keep the boiler in a clean condition.

If desired, valve $5 may be maintained slightly open so as to continuously drain salt and sediment from the boiler without objectionably interfering with operation thereof. It will be understood that when valve 65 is slightly opened for continuously draining the boiler, valve 6) is also slightly open for continuously supplying water to the boiler at a rate suiiicient to compensate for the slow draining of water therefrom. It

' will be understood that the exhaust pipe lll, in-

stead of being connected to a single engine, may be a stack suitably connectd to the exhaust manifolds of a plurality of engines within the hull.

Normally, the inboard and outboard valves il and I9, respectively, are opened for permitting iiow of the exhaust gases from pipe lil to and through the manifold structure, in the manner above described. When submerging or diving, however, these valves are closed, valve 65 is opened, valve 69 is closed, and valve 19 is disposed so as to permit space 'Hl of the evaporator to vent into the hull any air or gas entrained by the water and which may have collected in this space. As the boat submerges, water flows linto the muier structure so as to fill space 43, space 38, tube 39, and nipple Q2 of the evaporator unit, water also iiowing into the elbow so as to fill the latter down to valve i9. Water will also flow through blow-out pipe 64 of the boiler into the latter, which Will thus be completely filled with water, after which valve i9 is turned into position to close pipe 'i5 and the Vent from space 10. In this manner, all of the parts of the evaporator unit yare filled with water oi' flotation when the boat submerges, which renders it un'- necessary to construct the unit so as to withstand submergence pressure. This contributes to lightness of construction, which is highly desirable.

Preferably, the hot exhaust gases from the engines within the hull` are utilized for heating the water in the evaporators, thus utilizing heat which would otherwise be wasted. In its broader aspects, however, my invention contemplates heating the water in the evaporator by heat derived from any suitable source disposed Within the hull 5 of the boat.

While I have illustrated the evaporator, by way of example, as used for supplying steam to a condenser within the hull, it is not limited to this one use. In its broader aspects, my inven- 10 tion comprehends an evaporator or steam generator exterior of the hull and heated from a source of heat therewithin, the steam generated by the evaporator being used within the hull for various purposes, such as supplying water for the 1 5 personnel, for heating or cooking purposes, for supplying auxiliary power, or for any other purpose for which the steam can advantageously be used. For relatively high pressure Work, requiring pressures of say from one hundred to one 2 0 hundred and nity pounds per square inch, pipe 53, instead of being connected to pipe 55, may be connected to a separate feed pump Within the hull. This is thought to be an obvious variation and not to require illustration. 2 5

It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the eld and scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope ci the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

1. In combination in a submarine boat comprising a hull and a superstructure deck thereabove, a water jacketed internal combustion engine within the hull, an exhaust pipe leading from the engine through said hull and provided with a water jacket receiving water from the engine waterAo jacket, means for supplying water under pressure to the engine water jacket, a mufller tube receiving the hot exhaust gases from said pipe, an evaporator surrounding the mullier tube in thermal conducting relation thereto, a connection between the exhaust pipe water jacket and the evaporator for supplying water to the latter, a valve controlling said connection and operable from within the hull, a blow-out pipe leading from the evaporator, a valve controlling said blow-out pipe and operable from within the hull, a Water jacket surrounding the evaporator and connected to the exhaust pipe water jacket for receiving water therefrom, the muier tube and the evaporator and the water jacket therefor con- 55. stituting a unit disposed between the hull and the superstructure deck, a distilling condenser within the hull, and a pipe connecting the upper portion of the evaporator to the condenser.

2. In combination in a submarine boat com- 60, prising a hull and a superstructure deck thereabove, a water jacketed internal combustion engine within the hull, an exhaust pipe leading from the engine through said hull and provided with a water jacket receiving water from the engine water jacket, means for supplying water under pressure to the engine water jacket, a mufller tube receiving the hot exhaust gases from said pipe, an evaporator surrounding the mufiier tube in thermal conducting relation thereto, a connection between the exhaust pipe lwater jacket and the evaporator for supplying water to the latter, a valve controlling said connection and operable from within the hull, a blow-out pipe leading from the evaporator, a valve controlling said blow-.out

pipe and operable from within the hull, the muffier tube and the evaporato-r constituting a unit disposed between the hullv and said deck, a condenser within the hull, and a pipe connecting the upper portion of the evaporator to the condenser.

3. In combination in a submarine boat comprising a hull and a superstructure deck thereabove, an internal combhstion engine within the hull,'a Water ja'cketed exhaust pipe leading from the engine through the hull, means Afor supplying water under pressure to the water jacket of said pipe, a muiiler tube receiving the hot exhaust gases from the exhaust pipe, an evaporator surrounding the muffler tube in thermal conducting relation thereto, the evaporator and the muler tube constituting a unit disposed between the hull and said deck, a connection between the exhaust pipe water jacket and the evaporator for supplying water to the latter, a valve controlling said connection and operable from within the hull, a blowout pipe leading from the evaporator, a valve controlling said blow-out pipe and operable from within the hull, and a condenser within the hull connected to the steam space of said evaporator.

4. In combination in a submarine boat comprising a hull and a superstructure deck thereabove, an internal combustion engine within the hull, an exhaust pipe leading from the engine through the hull, a muffler'tube receiving the hot exhaust gases from the pipe, an evaporator surrounding the muffler tube in thermal conducting relation thereto, valve controlled means operable from Within the hull for supplying Ywater to the evaporator and for discharging water therefrom for adjusting the water level in said evaporator, a water gauge Within the hull and connected to the evaporator for indicating the water" level therein, the evaporator and the muler tube constituting a unit disposed between the hull and said deck, and a condenser within the hull connected to the steam space of-said evaporator.

5. In combination in a submarine boat comprising a hull and a superstructure deck thereabove, an internal combustion engine within the hull, an exhaust pipe leading from the engine through the hull, evaporator means disposed between the hull and said deck and heated by the hot exhaust gases from said pipe, valve controlled means operable from within the hull for supplying water to and discharging water from said evaporator means for controlling the water level therein, and a condenser within the hull connected to the steam space of the evaporator means. Y

6. In combination in a submarine boat, an internal combustion engine within the hull, an exhaust pipe leading from the engine through the hull, valve means controlling said pipe operable from within the hull, a muler tube exterior of the hull receiving the hot exhaust gases from sai-d pipe, an evaporator surrounding the mufller tube in thermal conducting relation thereto, valve controlled means operable from within the hull when the boat is submerged for supplying water of flotation to and discharging water overboard from the evaporator, a condenser within the hull and connected to the steam space of said evaporator, and valve means operable from within the hull for controlling communication between said condenser and said steam space.

7. In combination in a submarine boat, an internal combustion engine within the hull, an exhaust pipe leading Vfrom the engine through the hull, valve means controlling said pipe operable from within the hull, evaporator means exterior tion to and discharging water overboard from the 5 I evaporator means, a condenser withinthe hull and connected to the steam space of said evaporator means, and valve means operable from within the hull for controlling communication between said condenser and said steam space.

8. In combination in a submarine boat, an internal combustion engine within the hull,V an evaporator exterior of the hull, valve controlled means operable from within the hull when the boat is submerged for supplying water of flotation to and discharging water overboardfrom the evaporator, means for conducting the hot exhaust gases from the engine to the evaporator for heating water therein, valve means controlling said conducting means operable from within the hull, a condenser within the hull connected to the steam space of said evaporator, and valve means operable from within the hull for controlling communication between said condenser and said steam space. 25

9. In combination in a submarine boat, an internal combustion engine within the hull, an evaporator exterior of the hull, means operable from within the hull when the boat is submerged for optionally supplying water of flotation to and discharging water overboard from the evaporator, means for conducting the hot exhaust gases from the engine to the evaporator for heating water therein, valve means controlling said conducting means operable from within the hull, a condenser within the hull connected to the steam space of said evaporator, and valve means operable from within the hull for controlling communication between said condenser and said steam space.

l0. In combination in a submarine boat, an internal combustion engine within the hull, an evaporator exterior of the hull heated by the exhaust gases from said engine, valve controlled means operable from within the hull when `the boat is submerged for supplying water of flotation to and discharging water overboard from the evaporator, a condenser within the hull connected to the steam space of said evaporator, and valve means operable from within the hull for controlling communication between said condenser and said steam space.

11. In combination in a submarine boat, an internal combustion engine within the hull, an evaporator exterior of the hull heated by heat derived from said engine, means comprising Valve means operable from within the hull when the boat is submerged for supplying water of flotation to and discharging water overboard from the evaporator, a con-denser within the hull connected to the steam space of said evaporator, and 60 valve means operable from within the hull for controlling communication between said condenser and said steam space.

12. In combination in a submarine boat, a source of heat within the hull, an evaporator 65 exterior of the hull heated from said source of heat, valve controlled means operable from with-Y in the hull when the boat is submerged for supplying water of flotation to and discharging water overboard from said evaporator, a condenser Within the hull connected to the steam space of the evaporator, and valve means operable from within the hull for controlling communication between said condenser and said steam space.

13. In combination in a submarine boat, an

internal combustion engine Within the hull, a muffler comprising a boiler exterior of the hull heated by the hot exhaust gases from said engine, valve means operable from Within the hull for controlling communication between said muffier and said engine, means operable from Within the hull when the boat is submerged for supplying Water of flotation to and discharging Water overboard from the boiler, means for con'- ducting steam generated Within the boiler from the latter into the hull for use therein, and Valve meansv operable from Within the hull for controlling said steam conducting means.

14. In combination in a submarine boat, a source of heat Within the hull, a boiler exterior of the hull heated from said source of heat, means comprising Valve Ameans operable from within the hull when the boat is submerged for supplying Water of otation to and discharging Water overboard from said boiler, means for conducting steam generated Within the boiler from the latter into the hull for use therein, and valve means operable from Within the hull controlling 10 l said steam conducting means.

ERNEST NIBBS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

'Eatent No. 2,025,524.

December 24, 19155.

ERNEST NIBBS.

it is hereby Certified that the residence of the as signee in the grant and heading to the pinted specification was erroneously described and specified as "Groton, Pennsylvania" whereas said residence should have been described and specified as Groton, Connecticut; and page 4, second column, line 4,

claim '7, after "submerged" strike out the comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections t herein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of February, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner` of Patents. 

